περίεργος (periergos)
periergos
meddlesome/magic
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek adjective periergos describes someone who is meddlesome or a busybody, and by extension, things that are superfluous or uncanny. In its primary sense regarding people, it characterizes those who are overly curious about matters that do not concern them, neglecting what is important in favor of trifles. This negative connotation appears clearly in 1 Timothy 5:13, where Paul warns against younger widows who learn to be idle and meddlesome, wandering from house to house.
When applied to objects or actions, the word shifts to mean "over-wrought" or "curious arts." This usage is found in Acts 19:19, where believers burn their magical scrolls. Here, periergos refers to the superfluous and uncanny nature of these magic practices, marking them as empty and unnecessary compared to the power of the gospel. The term thus bridges social misconduct with spiritual emptiness.
Derived from peri ("around") and ergon ("work"), the literal sense is "working around" or doing unnecessary tasks. Translators often render it as "busybody" for people and "curious arts" or "magic" for objects, capturing the idea of activity that adds no real value but creates disturbance or confusion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word periergos describes activity that adds no real value but creates disturbance. It captures the spirit of being a busybody who wanders into matters that do not concern them. This kind of behavior often stems from idleness, where attention shifts from what is important to trivial details. It reminds us that true faithfulness involves focusing on our own responsibilities rather than monitoring others.
When applied to objects or practices, the term highlights things that are superfluous or uncanny. In Acts 19, believers burned scrolls associated with magical arts because they were empty and unnecessary compared to the power of the gospel. This shows that some pursuits, though perhaps complex or intriguing, ultimately lead away from what is genuine and good.
Our calling is to live simply and purposefully. We are invited to avoid the distraction of meddling in others' lives or chasing after hollow practices. Instead, we can focus on loving our neighbors with clarity and integrity, trusting that God provides all we truly need without the noise of unnecessary activity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- magic arts1×
- busybodies,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- περίεργοι,1×
- περίεργα1×
Key Verses
-
I Timothy 5:13
Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
Paul uses this word to describe idle widows who wander from house to house, showing how busyness can become a cover for gossip and meddling.
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Acts 19:19
Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
The believers burned their magical scrolls, recognizing that these 'curious arts' were superfluous and held no real power compared to the gospel.